Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator is provided. In the refrigerator, a manufacture cost for a buffer device to buffer a shock generated when opening a home bar door, can be reduced.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates to a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND ART

Refrigerators are domestic appliances to keep food in a refrigerating or freezing state.

Various types and kinds of refrigerators have been recently produced as, for example, a side-by-side type a refrigerating room and a freezing room are individually disposed in the right and left sides, a bottom freezer type a refrigerating room is adapted in an upper side of freezing room, and a top mount type a refrigerating room is provided in a lower side of freezing room.

Further, at recent there have been produced many refrigerators of a home-bar structure a user can take out food or beverage even without opening a door of the refrigerator compartment.

In detail, in the home-bar structure there are various kinds of home-bar door structures such as a structure a user manually rotates a home bar door unit to open or close or a button structure the home bar door unit is automatically opened when a user slightly presses and then hands off the home bar door unit.

However, a conventional home-bar structure in refrigerators has the following problems.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In the home-bar door structure a user manually opens and closes, frequently the user used to hand off the home bar door unit before the home bar door unit is completely opened in a horizontal state. In this case, the home bar door unit rotates by self weight and a shock is applied to a hinge axis thereof at a moment when the home bar door unit is completely opened in a horizontal state. In other words, the hinge axis has a shock together with a jerk sound at a moment when the home bar door unit rotates by self weight until becoming the horizontal state. It may thus result in a breakage of the hinge portion or damage a lower end part of the home bar door unit.

In the structure of being automatically opened by slightly pressing the home bar door unit, a damping structure is provided to protect the home bar door unit from a collision caused by a rotation force of the home bar door unit. However, such damping structure mostly uses oil. In an oil damper, a cost of parts is high and this becomes a factor increasing a price of products, refrigerators. Furthermore, there is a shortcoming a difference of damping force is generated depending on an oil amount inside the oil damper and thus a damping force is not uniform.

Accordingly, some embodiments of the invention provide a refrigerator capable of generating an even damping force in an opening step of home bar door unit through a mechanical damping structure. A manufacturing cost of damping device can be reduced as compared with a buffering structure of conventional home bar door unit.

Technical Solution

According to an embodiment of the invention, a refrigerator comprises a main body provided with at least one of refrigerator compartment and freezer compartment in the inside thereof; a door to open or close the refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment, the door having a predetermined size of opening part on one side thereof; a frame surrounding an inner edge of the opening part; a home bar door installed in the opening part, the home bar being pivotably provided on a front face of the door; a pressurizing member adapted at a rotation center part of the home bar door unit; and an elastic member provided to the frame, to provide a resistance force to the pressurizing member while the home bar door is open.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a refrigerator comprises a main body; a door pivotably installed on a front of the main body; a home bar door having a lower end part which is hingedly coupled to a front of the door; a frame coupled to the door and having a hinge hole into which a hinge of the home bar door unit is inserted; a pressurizing member provided at a lower end part of the home bar door unit; and a resistant provided at a predetermined position of the frame corresponding to the position of the pressurizing member, wherein the resistant is configured to restrict inadvertant opening of the home bar door, by interlocking with the pressurizing member.

Advantageous Effects

As described above, in a refrigerator according to embodiments of the invention, a manufacture cost of buffer device to reduce a shock generated when opening a home bar door unit can be lessened.

In addition, an assembly of buffer device according to an embodiment of the invention is simple and a uniform damping force is generated.

Furthermore, a damping force can be controlled with only a control of elastic count (K) value of an elastic member generating a buffering force.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate example embodiments of the present invention. Example embodiments may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be considered as limited to the embodiments set forth in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of refrigerator according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a disassembled perspective view illustrating a buffer structure of home bar door unit of refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along a line I-I′ of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a support structure of resistant constituting a damping unit according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a disassembled perspective view of resistant combined with the support structure;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a damping unit in an opened state of home bar door unit with a given angle according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a damping unit in a completely opened state of home bar door unit according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a buffer structure of home bar door unit of refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a buffer structure of home bar door unit of refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the invention.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art appreciating the ideas of the present invention can easily propose other embodiments through addition, deletion, change, etc. of components within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of refrigerator according to an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a main body 11 including a refrigerating compartment and a freezer compartment in the inside thereof, doors 12 and 13 installed to pivotally rotate on a front face of the main body 11, to selectively open and close the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment, and a home-bar structure provided with the door 12, 13.

In detail, the home bar structure comprises a home-bar case (not shown) adapted on a rear face of the door 12, 13, a home bar door unit 30 adapted to pivotally rotate on a front face of the door 12, 13, and a frame 40 adapted along an edge of opening part adapted on the door 12, 13 and combined to pivotally rotate the home bar door unit 30.

FIG. 2 is a disassembled perspective view illustrating a buffer structure of home bar door unit of refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along a line I-I′ of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the home-bar structure of refrigerator according to the first embodiment comprises a frame 40 adapted on an inner edge par of the opening part 46 adapted in the door 12, 13, and a home bar door unit 30 coupled to the frame so that a lower end part thereof pivotally rotate.

In detail, a hinge 31 is formed protruded from both side faces of lower end part of the home bar door unit 30, and a damping unit 50 is adapted in a lower part of back face of the home bar door unit 30 and in a lower part of front face of the frame 40.

More in detail, the frame 40 is constructed of a front-face frame 41 facing to the front of the door 12, 13 and a back-face frame 42 combined with a back face of the front-face frame 41. In the right and left side face of lower part of the frame 40, a hinge hole 44 is formed, into which the hinge 31 is inserted.

The damping unit 50 comprises a resistant 43 adapted in a lower part of front face part of the frame 40, and a pressurizing face 32 adapted in a lower part of back face part of the home bar door unit 30 to pressurize the resistant 43.

The resistant 43 is comprised of an elastic member 432 having given electricity, and a stopper 431 adapted on a front face of the elastic member 432. The elastic member 432 has a structure of being inserted into the inside of the stopper 431. The elastic member may be provided as a compression spring. In a state the home bar door unit 30 is closed, the elastic member 432 maintains an original state.

Further, the pressurizing face 32 is formed in a curved shape with a given curvature in a lower part of back face of the home bar door unit 30.

In such structure, even when a user hands off the home bar door unit 30 in a state the home bar door unit 30 is opened by a given angle, the home bar door unit 30 is prevented from being quickly dropped rotating by using the damping unit 50. Furthermore, in the structure of being automatically opened when slightly pressing the home bar door unit 30, the home bar door unit 30 can be also prevented from being rapidly dropped rotating.

In a structure of the home bar door unit 30 for a manual scheme according to an embodiment of the invention, an operation of the damping unit 50 performed in an opened step f the home bar door unit 30 is described in detail as follows. Although it is shown in the drawing the damping unit 50 is positioned on a center of lower part of the home bar door unit 30, the invention is not limited to that but the damping unit 50 may be adapted in any one side or both sides of both edges of the home bar door 30.

FIG. 4 illustrates a support structure of resistant constituting the damping unit according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 is a disassembled perspective view of resistant combined with the support structure.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a guide rib 47 to be combined with the resistant 43 is adapted in a lower end part of the back-face frame 42 constituting the frame 40.

In detail, the guide rib 47 may be formed protruded from a bottom face of the back-face frame 42 of a point on which the resistant 43 is positioned.

Further, in the resistant 43, a guide protrusion 433 is protruded on an outer circumference face of stopper 431, and the guide protrusion 433 is inserted into the guide rib 47. The guide protrusion 433 is adapted movable in before and after directions inside the guide rib 47. Thus, in a step of opening the home bar door unit 30, the guide protrusion 433 moves backward inside the guide rib 47. To the contrary, in a step of closing the home bar door unit 30, the guide protrusion 433 moves forward inside the guide rib 47.

Besides the embodiments of the invention described above, various connection structures of the resistant 43 coupled movable to the frame 40 may be adapted without being deviated from the spirit of the invention. The spiritual characteristic of the invention is that the resistant 43 is movable within a range of not being deviated from the frame 40, according to an open/close state of the home bar door unit 30, and such all kinds of embodiments to achieve the spirit of the invention are included in the claim of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a damping unit in an opened state of home bar door unit with a given angle according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a damping unit in a completely opened state of home bar door unit according to an embodiment of the invention.

With reference to FIG. 6, during opening the home bar door unit 30, pressurizing face 32 adapted in a lower part of back face of the home bar door 30 rotates together.

In detail, the pressurizing face 32 keeps a close adhesion state with the resistant 43. As the home bar door 30 pivotally rotates, the stopper 431 retreats by a shape of the pressurizing face 32. As the stopper 431 retreats, the elastic member 432 is compressed. As the elastic member 432 is compressed, an elastic force is cumulated and according to that, a resistance force against the pressurizing face 32 is generated. That is, as a pivotally rotation angle of the home bar door 30 increases, the magnitude of elasticity cumulated in the elastic member 432 increases, and this elasticity acts as a force of interfering the rotation of the home bar door 30. Accordingly, even when a user hands off the home bar door 30 rotated with a given angle, a rapidly pivotally-rotating and dropped effect can be prevented.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the home bar door 30 is completely opened as a horizontal state, elasticity cumulated on the elastic member 432 becomes relatively largest. In this state, when the user backward rotates the home bar door 30 to close, elasticity cumulated in the elastic member 432 becomes relatively largest. In this state, when the user backward rotates the home bar door 30 to close, the elastic member 432 is restored to an original state.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a buffer structure of home bar door of refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, a damping unit 60 for the buffer of home bar door according to the second embodiment of the invention comprises a cam 61 adapted in both side faces of the home bar door 30, and a resistant repeating a tensile and a shrinkage through the cam 61.

The cam 61 is adapted to perform the same function as the pressurizing face 32 of the first embodiment and is inserted into a hinge of the home bar door 30. The resistant is comprised of a stopper 62 and an elastic member 63 like in the first embodiment.

More in detail, the cam 61 is a cam member of a type that a half diameter not a concentric circle is expanded as shown in the drawing, and pressurizes the stopper 62 in a step of opening the home bar door 30. While the home bar door 30 is opened, the cam 61 rotates together and the damper 62 retreats, and the elastic member 63 is shrunk. To the contrary, in a step of closing the home bar door 30, the stopper 62 and the elastic member 63 are stored to an original state.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a buffer structure of home bar door of refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the invention.

With reference to FIG. 9, a damping unit 70 for a buffer of home bar door according to a third embodiment of the invention comprises cam 61 having adapted in the second embodiment, and a torsion spring 64 combined with the back-face frame 42.

In an operation of the damping unit 70, the torsion spring 64 is maintained as an original state in a state the home bar door 30 is closed, and is pressurized by the cam 61 in a step of opening the home bar door 30. That is, a width of the torsion spring 64 of a v shape becomes narrow by the cam 61, cumulating elasticity. Thus, the cam 61 rotates together when opening the home bar door 30, to pressurize the torsion spring 64. Elastic force cumulated in the torsion force 64 acts as a resistance force against the home bar door 30, thus controlling a rapid opening of the home bar door 30.

In other embodiments, the resistant may be formed of rubber material having elasticity. In detail, rubber member having elasticity may be adapted at a position of the resistant, to become contacted with the home bar door 30 when the home bar door 30 is opened. Then, a pressurizing member adapted in a lower end part of the home bar door 30 is in contact with resistant of the rubber material, generating a collision force and simultaneously providing a buffer action as the resistant of rubber material is shrunk.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in the above, they are only examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. It may be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and applications may be made without departing from the essential feature of the present invention. For example, each of the components specifically represented in the embodiments of the present invention may be modified. And, differences associated with this modification and application should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention defined in accompanying claims. 

1. A refrigerator comprising: a main body provided with at least one of refrigerator compartment and freezer compartment in the inside thereof; a door to open or close the refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment, the door having a predetermined size of opening part on one side thereof; a frame surrounding an inner edge of the opening part; a home bar door installed in the opening part, the home bar being pivotably provided on a front face of the door; a pressurizing member adapted at a rotation center part of the home bar door; and an elastic member provided to the frame, to provide a resistance force to the pressurizing member while the home bar door is open.
 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the pressurizing member is provided on a rear face part of the home bar door.
 3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the pressurizing member is provided at either end part of the home bar door.
 4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the elastic member comprises a compression spring or torsion spring.
 5. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a stopper coupled to a front face of the elastic member and contact the pressurizing member.
 6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the pressurizing member is configured to pressurize the elastic member when the home bar door is opened, to cumulate a resistance force in the elastic member.
 7. A refrigerator comprising: a main body; a door pivotably installed on a front of the main body; a home bar door having a lower end part which is hingedly coupled to a front of the door; a frame coupled to the door and having a hinge hole into which a hinge of the home bar door is inserted; a pressurizing member provided at a lower end part of the home bar door; and a resistant provided at a predetermined position of the frame corresponding to the position of the pressurizing member, wherein the resistant is configured to restrict inadvertant opening of the home bar door, by interlocking with the pressurizing member.
 8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the pressurizing member is a pressurizing face protruded from a back face of the home bar door.
 9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the resistant comprises: a stopper contacting the pressurizing face; and a compression spring provided at a rear of the stopper.
 10. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the pressurizing member is a cam inserted into a hinge of the home bar door.
 11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the resistant comprises: a stopper contacting the cam; and a compression spring provided at a rear of the stopper.
 12. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the resistant comprises a torsion spring contacting the cam.
 13. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the resistant is movable forward and backward in a state of being combined with the frame.
 14. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the resistant is formed of rubber material.
 15. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the resistant is an elastic member contacting the pressurizing member.
 16. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the pressurizing member is provided integrally with the home bar door or provided as an independent member. 